My Graduation, December 2011

“It’s official. I’ve graduated.” That’s what I wrote on December 16, 2011.

During the months of December 2010 into spring 2011,  I had worked out my final courses and I knew the rest of the game plan that would take me through fall to graduation. I was no longer planning what classes to take next. It was all laid out, and the end was in sight. It was so hard to grasp that I was really done!

Throughout the fall semester, I was asked many times by coworkers, “Are you going to walk for graduation?” Another person asked me, “Why do you want to walk for graduation?” I didn’t have a great answer for that at first. I had never considered missing it. I just assumed it was the final step in the process. Practically, I think that because I knew I would not be jumping into some great new job but staying where I was, walking for graduation is the only thing that acknowledged and celebrated the accomplishment. Also, since I work at the university, I wanted to walk before my colleagues at the university, with the students (many of whom I helped in my work). Commencement recognizes the value of the work required to get a degree. It is the capstone for all the hard work. Yes, I walked!


This spring, my son will be graduating. How cool is that!